The death toll of crisis in Sudan has surpassed 500, according to the World Health Organization, as a tense 72-hour ceasefire was extended for three more days on Friday. The fragile truce has calmed more than a week of intense fighting between two well-armed factions led by rival commanders.
Here’s what’s happening in the East African nation and why:
Who is fighting in Sudan?
Clashes in Sudan are between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Until recently, the leaders of the two forces were allies. They worked together in 2019 a overthrow Sudan’s brutal dictator Omar al-Bashirwho ruled the country for three decades, rose to power as thousands took to the streets in a popular uprising against al-Bashir.
After that coup, a power-sharing government was formed, made up of civilian and military groups. The plan was for him to rule Sudan for a few years and oversee a transition to a completely civilian government.
Why did the fighting start in Sudan?
In 2021, al-Burhan, who had become head of the power-sharing council, dissolved it and declared that he would hold elections in 2023.
The current clashes broke out between the army and the RSF as a result of the breakdown of negotiations on the integration of the two forces ahead of the planned restoration of civilian rule. There was disagreement over which general would be subordinate to the other and how quickly the RSF would be incorporated into the Sudanese army.
Heavy fighting broke out across the country on April 8, with Sudan’s capital Khartoum and neighboring Obdurman turning into battlegrounds.
Ahmed Satti/Anadolu Agency/Getty
US embassy workers evacuated
The US Army successfully evacuated Just under 90 US diplomatic staff from Sudan, including the US ambassador, from the US Embassy in Khartoum, the White House said, adding that the US would “temporarily suspend operations” at your embassy.
US officials told CBS News on Monday that the government was considering multiple options to remove US nationals from Sudan. It’s not yet clear how many US citizens are in Sudan, but The Associated Press said about 16,000 were registered with the US embassy as residents of the country.
Google Maps
Plans under consideration include sending a contingent of US troops to Port Sudan, on the country’s Red Sea coast, to coordinate departures. European and African nations have spent the week evacuating civilians, including organizing airlifts out of the country, amid calmer circumstances under the ceasefire.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that the U.S. government “will continue to coordinate with allies and partners conducting their own operations and leverage those efforts to include Americans.” .
At least two An American citizen is among those who have been killed in the violence, officials have confirmed.
— David Martin, Debora Patta and Sarah Carter contributed to this story.
Trending news
Haley Ott
